Starter for internal-combustion engines



E. L. KLI SE' STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION mm MAY 23. 1921.

1,416,720, Patented May 23, 1922.

EARL L. ELISE, or me MARS, rows.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

T aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, EARL L. KLIsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Le Mars, in the county of Plymouth and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and use f'ul Improvements in Starters for Internal Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in starters for internal combustion engines, and more particularly tostarters for aeroplanes.

An important object of the invention is: to provide a device of this character wherein the starting mechanism when not in use in no manner interferes with the normal opera tion of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a starter of the dog and ratchet type wherein the dog when not in use automatically falls out of engagement with the ratchet, and wherein the initial operation of the device serves to engage the dog with the ratchet.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

- In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout:

Figure l is a front elevation showing a starter constructed in accordance with my invention applied to an engine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective of the oscillatory arm; and

Figure 4: is a perspective of the dog lever.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a crank shaft of a motor M. having keyed thereto a solid ratchet gear 11. Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 10, adjacent and abutting the side face of the gear 11, is an arm 12 held in position against the gear by means of a collar 12*.

This arm has a lever 13 pivotally secured thereto at a point intermediate its ends, one end of the lever being provided with a tooth engaging point 14L and the opposite end of the lever being counterweighted, as at 15. To the latter end of the lever 13 a flexible element 16 is secured which passes through a suitable guide 17 formed upon the outer Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 151x232. 1921. Serial No. 471,610.

extremity of the arm 12 and about suitable guioe pulleys 18 to a point adjacent the drivers seat where it may be conveniently engaged. The arm 12 is normally held in a retracted position by means of a spring 19. In the operation of my device, when the flexible element 16 is engaged by the driver, the initial pull thereon engages the point 1%: of the lever 13 with the teeth of the ratchet gear 11 and further pull thereon tends to more firmly seat the ratchet dog in the teeth and to rotate the arm 12 about its axis, such rotation will, of course, cause rotation of the crank shaft 10 with the accompanying starting of the motor. Upon release of the flexible element the spring 19 returns the arm 12 to normal position, and the counterweighted end 15 of the lever 13 will cause the pointed end 1% thereof to release from the teeth of the ratchet gear 11 and remain out of engagement therewith until the element 16 is re-engaged.

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that I have constructed a starting mechanism which is particularly well adapted for the use for which it is intended by reason of the simplicity of construction thereof and the facility with which, it may be operated, and it will furthermore be ob vious that the construction as hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change andmodification without departing from the spirit of my invention. I accordingly do not limit myself to the specific structure as hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In an engine starter, the combination with a crank shaft having a ratchet gear secured thereto, of an arm rotatably mounted upon the shaft and normally disposed in one position, a counterweighted lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said arm provided upon one end thereof with a ratchet tooth engagement dog, a flexible element for rotating said arm upon said shaft and connected with the other end of said lever to shift the same about the pivot thereof upon initial movement of the flexible member and bring said dog into engagement with the teeth of said ratchet gear, and a retractile element for returning said arm to normal position.

2. In an engine starter, the combination with a. crank shaft and a ratchet gear secured thereto, of an arm rotatably mounted guide of said arm and engaging the last named endof the lever, and a retractile element engaged with the free end of said 10 arm. 7 v

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EARL L. KLISE. 

